Danegeld

• Danegelt

From Middle English, from Dane, genitive plural of Dan (“Dane”), plus geld (“geld, tribute, payment”). Apparently modeled on a Scandinavian word such as Old Danish Danegjeld), from Old Norse *Danagjald, from the genitive plural of Danir (“Danes”) + gjald (“payment, tribute”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdeɪnɡɛld/

Danegeld (uncountable)

1. (historical) A tax raised originally to protect against Viking raiders in the 10th and 11th centuries, and later continued as a land tax.
   • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:

     And who shall then stick closest to ye, and excite others? not he who takes up armes for cote and conduct, and his four nobles of Danegelt.

• gladened